2014-05-20 05:00:00

Many people retire their cars around 100,000 miles, and many cars out there are not suitable to even reach the 100,000-mile mark. However, it is possible to get a vehicle to last you 250,000 miles. It requires attentive care, research, and professional assistance. There are several factors involved; what kind of car you have, who you hire to take care of the car, how you drive, how often you service it, and several others.

The Car

The first step is to find a car that can actually make it to 250,000 miles. You have to get a high quality automobile in the first place, because not all cars are cut out for extremely long lifespans. Do some research in order to find out if your car is likely to last 250,000 miles. Don’t push it with a vehicle that isn’t known for its longevity. If you determine that your car’s make and model is known to be reliable past 200,000 miles, you still need to assess whether or not your particular vehicle can handle it, or needs to be replaced. Also, listen to the advice of your professional, licensed mechanic to stay safe on the road. Let them know that you are trying to get your car to last 250,000 miles, and listen to what they have to say.

The Mechanic

You need a good mechanic. You should have a relationship with the shop where you regularly service your car. Find a good one, get to know them, and try to stick with it. If the service isn’t up to scratch, or if problems develop, obviously you should change mechanics. But the goal here is to find someone that you can get to know, who can get to know your car, and that you can regularly go to for reliable information about the state of your vehicle.

How You Drive

How you drive your car has a definite impact on the lifespan of the car. If you drive like a maniac, then your car will not last very long before breaking down, even with regular servicing. If you are attempting to get your car to last for 250,000 miles, you should drive carefully. Following the rules of the road, being mindful of other drivers, and taking reasonable care on the road are the priority, but if you have a choice between stomping on the gas, and gently accelerating, you should give your car the gentle treatment. Remember, the way you drive should be focused on safety. Taking care of the car is a secondary consideration, but one that has a substantial impact on the overall life of the car.

Oil

Keep an eye on your oil levels. Learn about your car’s specific oil needs and rate of consumption. It doesn’t hurt to check your oil every second gasoline fill-up, and it doesn’t hurt to keep it topped off. Also, waiting longer than the factory recommended limit to change your oil might keep you from reaching that 250,000-mile goal. You don’t have to change it every day, but it is a good idea to be aware of what is going on with your car’s oil and to do the necessary scheduled maintenance.

Regular Service

Having your car serviced regularly is very important. You need to keep your cooling system working well, because having a faulty cooling system can destroy your engine. You need to keep all other belts, fans, and parts regularly serviced because a problem with any of them could easily destroy your engine. The solution is to go to a professional, licensed mechanic on a regular basis. Check with your manufacturer to see when you need to replace what parts, and then be sure to have your car serviced often enough. Make sure that your mechanic knows the intervals at which the parts in your particular car need to be changed. Paying for a new part before the old one breaks is a much better policy, rather than just waiting for your car to break down. This is especially true if you want your car to last you a long time.

Conclusion

The best way to keep your car running for a long time is to take meticulous care of it. That includes the steps above, but also keeping it clean and having it detailed regularly. If you are considering installing custom modifications, check with your manufacturer to see if they are safe to install before putting them on, and avoid them if they make the car less safe, or change how the car ages. The automotive parts that need to be replaced often should be cycled out as often as recommended by the manufacturer, including headlights and fog lights, tail lights, and brake lights. This is true even if you have sealed beam headlights, or other kinds of head-lamps. Having a headlight go out on the road can be a dangerous affair, and it is best to avoid it. To read more about how to make your car run forever, click here.